What is Dementia? - PDF

What is dementia? 2 Dementia UK Dementia is an umbrella term for where symptoms develop before a range of progressive conditions the age of 65. Please see Sources of that affect the brain. The brain is support on p11 for our information made up of nerve cells (neurones) on young...

What is dementia? 2 Dementia UK Dementia is an umbrella term for where symptoms develop before a range of progressive conditions the age of 65. Please see Sources of that affect the brain. The brain is support on p11 for our information made up of nerve cells (neurones) on young onset dementia. that communicate with each A very small number of cases other by sending messages. of dementia are due to genetic Dementia damages these nerve mutations, such as some forms cells so messages cannot be sent of frontotemporal dementia, effectively, which prevents the Huntington’s disease and rare brain from functioning normally. varieties of Alzheimer’s disease. There are over 200 subtypes and However, for most people, causes of dementia. The four most dementia is not inherited. common are: Symptoms of dementia Alzheimer’s disease Every person will experience vascular dementia dementia in their own unique way but the main frontotemporal dementia symptoms include: Lewy body dementia Memory problems It is possible to have more than one People with dementia might: type of dementia at the same time – this is known as mixed dementia. have problems retaining The most common is a combination new information of Alzheimer’s disease and get lost in familiar places vascular dementia. struggle to remember names of Dementia can affect a person at people and objects any age but it is more commonly diagnosed in people over the age become increasingly forgetful of 65 years, with the risk increasing misplace things regularly the older a person gets. However, around 70,800 people in the UK live with young onset dementia,  What is dementia? 3 Cognitive ability motivation to take part in activities (processing information) they used to enjoy. People with dementia may: Communication have difficulties with People with dementia may: concentration and short-term memory repeat themselves often have problems understanding have difficulty finding the time and place, eg getting up in right words the middle of the night to go to struggle with reading, writing work, even if they are retired and numeracy struggle with choosing items lose interest in seeing when shopping and paying others socially have difficulty with reasoning Following and engaging in have problems making decisions conversation can be difficult, so a formerly outgoing person might Some people with dementia feel become more introverted. Their a sense of restlessness and prefer self-confidence might also to keep moving than sit still; be affected. others may slow down and lack the 4 Dementia UK Mood and behaviour becoming withdrawn People with dementia might feeling unsettled by unfamiliar develop changes in personality, situations or changes in routine behaviour and mood, and may As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, experience anxiety and depression you may notice: as a result of the changes they are going through and their effect on increasing confusion their life. hallucinations and delusions Types of dementia disturbed sleep Alzheimer’s disease increasing speech and Alzheimer’s disease is the most language difficulties common type of dementia in the difficulty with spatial awareness, UK. It is caused by a build-up of eg judging speeds and distances proteins in the brain, resulting in ‘plaques’ and ‘tangles’ which Eventually, the person damage the brain cells’ ability to may experience: transmit messages. distressed or In the early stages, the symptoms aggressive behaviour of Alzheimer’s disease include: problems swallowing and eating forgetting recent events incontinence and conversations loss of speech misplacing items or putting them in the wrong place mobility problems forgetting the names of people, frailty places or objects Medication is available which may struggling to find the right words help to improve symptoms and slow progression, but it does not repeating themselves prevent or cure Alzheimer’s disease mood changes and is not suitable for everyone with the diagnosis.  What is dementia? 5 Please see Sources of support seem stable, the damage to the on p10 for more information on brain means they will not function Alzheimer’s disease. in quite the way they did before. Vascular dementia The symptoms of vascular dementia depend on which area of Vascular dementia is the second the brain is affected. Some of the most common type of dementia. most common include: It is caused by problems in the blood supply to the brain cells, concentration problems commonly due to strokes or a poor short-term memory series of ‘mini strokes’, known as transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs), difficulty with everyday skills which cause areas of localised cell slowed thought processes damage in the brain. changes in behaviour Changes in a person’s condition as a and personality result of TIAs or a larger stroke are often sudden; their condition may difficulty solving problems and then stabilise, before worsening making decisions and plans again. While the person may have rapidly changing mood periods where their symptoms 6 Dementia UK Please see Sources of support semantic dementia or primary on p11 for more information on progressive aphasia (PPA) vascular dementia. Often, the early signs of Frontotemporal dementia frontotemporal dementias are missed or mistaken for another Frontotemporal dementia is condition by the person, their an umbrella term for a group of family and health professionals. dementias that mainly affect This may result in a delay in personality, behaviour, language diagnosis – sometimes of and speech. Memory is usually less several years. affected in the early stages. Please see Sources of support Frontotemporal dementia is most on p11 for more information on common in people aged 45 to 65 frontotemporal dementia. years. The areas of the brain most affected are the: Lewy body dementia frontal lobes: these are Lewy body dementia is caused involved in personality, by abnormal clumps of proteins, decision-making, social known as Lewy bodies, within functioning, problem-solving, the brain. It particularly affects insight, empathy, motivation movement and thinking, and can and planning. Dementia that cause hallucinations, fluctuations predominantly affects the in alertness and sleep disturbances. frontal lobes may be known as There are two subtypes of Lewy frontal dementia, behavioural body dementia; the difference variant frontotemporal between them is when certain dementia or Pick’s disease symptoms first appear. temporal lobes: these relate In dementia with Lewy bodies, the to speech, word-finding, first symptoms include changes comprehension and language in thinking, visual perception and ability. Dementia that sleep. Difficulties with movement predominantly affects the (motor symptoms) may develop at temporal lobes may be known as the same time or later.  What is dementia? 7 In Parkinson’s disease dementia, shuffling when walking mobility problems – known as disrupted sleep due to intense Parkinsonism symptoms – typically dreams/nightmares develop before changes to memory, concentration or thinking. visual and auditory hallucinations Not everyone with Parkinson’s Memory is often less affected than disease will develop dementia, but with other types of dementia, but the risk increases over time. a person might experience sudden Symptoms include: bouts of confusion which can change on an hourly basis. falls Please see Sources of support on tremors (similar to p11 for more information on Lewy Parkinson’s disease) body dementia. difficulty swallowing 8 Dementia UK Other forms of dementia stress, anxiety and/ or depression There are many other forms of dementia, or conditions that First, the person’s GP will may lead to dementia, including take a full medical and family alcohol-related brain damage history and do a basic physical (Wernicke’s encephalopathy, examination, including the person’s Korsakoff’s syndrome and alcoholic heart rate and blood pressure. They dementia), posterior cortical should order blood and/or urine atrophy and Huntington’s disease. tests and may request other tests You can find links to information on such as an ECG (a tracing of heart these in Sources of support activity), X-rays and/or a brain on p10-11. scan to look for any underlying physical conditions. Getting a diagnosis They should also conduct a brief If someone is showing symptoms test of memory and cognition, of dementia it is important to visit including asking the person to a GP as soon as possible. Some name objects; remember and recall conditions have similar symptoms information (such as an address); to dementia and may be treatable, and complete a simple drawing, eg so the GP should investigate these putting numbers on a clockface. first. They include: If other causes of the person’s infections symptoms are ruled out, the thyroid problems GP should refer the person to a memory service/clinic/specialist delirium (intense confusion, for further assessment. often caused by an infection or other illness) If the person is diagnosed with dementia, they may be referred circulation problems for additional assessments and vitamin B12 deficiency support, for example from health and social care professionals and sleep apnoea voluntary organisations. They  What is dementia? 9 should be told about any specialist seriously with everyday life. MCI advice and support services in itself is not a form of dementia, but their area. a person with MCI is more likely to be diagnosed with dementia in You can also contact our dementia the future. specialist Admiral Nurses for support and advice. Please see Can dementia Sources of support on p10-11 be prevented? for their contact details and There is currently no known way to further information on diagnosing prevent dementia, but you may be dementia and next steps. able to delay it or reduce the risk by Some people with minor problems making some changes to with memory and cognition are your lifestyle, eg: diagnosed with mild cognitive eating a balanced, healthy diet impairment (MCI) – where the changes are significant enough to aiming to maintain a healthy be noticed by the person and those weight – the NHS body mass around them, but do not interfere index (BMI) calculator is a guide: 10 Dementia UK nhs.uk/live-well/healthy- staying physically active weight/bmi-calculator if you have type 2 diabetes, keeping hydrated following any advice you have been given to manage this not smoking – you can read effectively and ensure your NHS stop smoking advice at blood sugar levels stay nhs.uk/conditions/stop- under control smoking-treatments taking part in mentally keeping alcohol intake within stimulating activities that use recommended guidelines different parts of the brain, such – visit drinkaware.co.uk as walking, gardening, singing, for information art, music, sport, reading, having regular check-ups with puzzles, or learning a language your GP, including blood pressure and cholesterol levels Sources of support To speak to a specialist dementia nurse about any aspect of dementia, please call our Helpline on 0800 888 6678 (Monday to Friday 9am-9pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm) or email [email protected] To book a phone or video appointment with an Admiral Nurse, please visit dementiauk.org/book-an-appointment Dementia UK resources Alcohol-related brain damage Alzheimer’s disease dementiauk.org/alcohol- dementiauk.org/ related-brain-damage alzheimers-disease  What is dementia? 11 Emotional impact of a Next steps after a young onset dementia diagnosis dementia diagnosis dementiauk.org/ dementiauk.org/young-onset- emotional-impact dementia-next-steps Frontotemporal dementia Parkinson’s disease dementiauk.org/ dementiauk.org/ frontotemporal-dementia parkinsons-disease Getting a diagnosis Tests for dementia of dementia dementiauk.org/tests-for- dementiauk.org/getting-a- dementia-and-alzheimers diagnosis-of-dementia Vascular dementia Getting a diagnosis of young dementiauk.org/ onset dementia vascular-dementia dementiauk.org/young-onset- Young onset dementia section dementia-getting-a-diagnosis dementiauk.org/ Huntington’s disease young-onset-dementia dementiauk.org/ Other resources huntingtons-disease Huntington’s Lewy body dementia Disease Association dementiauk.org/dementia- hda.org.uk with-lewy-bodies Lewy Body Society Posterior cortical atrophy lewybody.org dementiauk.org/ posterior-cortical-atrophy Parkinson’s UK parkinsons.org.uk Next steps after a dementia diagnosis Rare Dementia Support dementiauk.org/ raredementiasupport.org after-a-diagnosis The information in this leaflet is written and reviewed by dementia specialist Admiral Nurses. We hope you find it useful. If you have feedback, please email [email protected] Publication date: March 2023 Review date: March 2025 © Dementia UK 2023 We want to ensure no one has to face dementia alone – and we can only do this because of our generous supporters. If you would like to help, please consider making a kind gift. To donate: call 0300 365 5500, visit dementiauk.org/donate-to-support or scan the QR code. Thank you. If you have questions or concerns about any aspect of dementia, please contact our Admiral Nurses. Helpline: 0800 888 6678 or [email protected] Virtual clinics: dementiauk.org/book-an-appointment dementiauk.org [email protected] Dementia UK, 7th Floor, One Aldgate, London EC3N 1RE Dementia UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1039404) and Scotland (SC 047429). DUKC_01